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Hi Patrick and Graeme,
Thanks so much for your replies.
I have a number of what I feel are nice telescopes, but have never owned a Dob. To add context, my current largest scope is a “measly” 10” LX90. To be honest, I’ve not really ever had a hankering for a dob until now but, for some reason, the mood has recently struck me. There are plenty of options available between this and what I currently own, I know, but I figure if I’m going to go the dob route for mere aperture purposes (which is pretty well the appeal) I might as well go relatively large compared with what I already have. The 20” Skywatcher Synscan seems a pretty decent option at “trying out” a significantly larger aperture than I’ve ever experienced. I know there are higher quality and more premium options out there, but this actually seems like a pretty decent consideration. To be honest, irrespective of the differences a higher wave mirror from a highly regarded maker might provide, I’m pretty certain I’d be impressed with almost anything an even “reasonable” mirror at this aperture might show in the right conditions and under reasonable skies. The fact that the optics of this particular scope (aside from those reviewed under extremely critical analysis, which I’m far from qualified to comment) seem to have received mostly positive, and sometimes glowing, reviews is pretty well enough for me. I’m not expecting the creme de la creme. Just a much larger aperture option, should the mood strike on any given night. This seems a pretty decent option, and with go-to/tracking, for a great price (still expensive, but cheap in most respects).
I guess all I really hoped to hear from you both is that these things aren’t complete duds, which I never expected that they were going to be.
Patrick, really glad to hear you’re happy with the scope. Whilst I know that this type/aperture scope is probably ideally suited to DSO’s, it’s interesting to hear that you’re not overly impressed with it on planets. I’d be keen to use it on both planets as well as DSO’s, but predominantly the latter. I have other scopes ideally suited to planetary observing.
Graeme, thanks for kicking off this thread to begin with. Your initial impressions (both positive and potentially negative) are appreciated and the subsequent replies, particularly with regard to your thermalised mirror holding its own against an SDM, are encouraging. It leads me to think I will purchase one of these and immediately get started on upgrading the items you kindly detailed as requiring attention. Great to also hear that you have, in fact, enjoyed some decent planetary views through yours.
Don’t you just love astronomy and telescopes... horses for courses and vice versa.
Again, thanks fellas. The fact that you’re both still reasonably satisfied with this particular scope with the limited amount of time you’ve each had to spend with it leads me to think it’s worth a shot. Where/how else is one going to get a go at observing with this kind of aperture, and complete with a fully functioning go-to system, other than this at this price point?! If the optics are good and the functionality of the scope works, that is fine for me. I have the rest of my life to “upgrade” to an Obsession, SDM, Starstructure, etc. etc. should I all of a sudden decide to become a dobsonian “connoisseur”!
Thanks again fellas.
Aaron
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